Bruises are injuries just below the skin with no open wounds to the skin. This usually happens when your body collides with or bumps into something hard. The blood from broken capillaries seeps into the tissues around the affected area and forms a bruise. which is also known as a contusion.
Complications from common bruising is rare, but you should be conscious of any abnormally long healing time, or pain that does not diminish quickly after the bruising occurs. Normal bruises will begin to fade away naturally, on their own, after a few days, and there should be no real pain from the bruise after the first couple of days.
Consider applying an ice pack immediately after getting a bruise for about seven minutes, as the cold will slow the amount of blood flowing to the injured area, and will thus limit the amount of blood leaking into the tissues. Do not apply ice directly to the bruise, as this may cause damage to the skin. To ensure fast pain relief you may repeat the process at twenty minute intervals, until the pain subsides.
Understand that you using an ice pack improperly or applying ice directly to a bruise can cause more damage to the area than what was caused by the impact that created the bruise. Mind your application times, do not shorten your intervals between applications, and stop all applications when your pain is gone.
Once you no longer feel any pain and the bruises still exhibit redness, allow the bruises to rest about 5 hours uncovered. Then start applying hot compress for about 15 or 20 minutes every hour or so. Be sure the compress is not so hot as to burn the skin, and this on and off treatment program will accelerate the body’s healing process by stimulating blood flow and the bruise blood re-absorption. Your skin, capillary walls, and the muscle tissues around the site of damage caused by an impact will all experience quicker healing.
By simply elevating the affected area above the level of your heart, you will minimize the blood flow to that area and help alleviate any swelling or pain at the point of injury. If you notice feelings of being lightheaded or ill when you elevate the area, it’s probably best to consult with your doctor to avoid any complication.
Another method of improving the healing process for a new bruise is to use arnica gel applied topically to the affected area at least three to four times a day. It will ease any swelling and help your skin regain its original color. A tincture of arnica will also work, provided you can determine the precise combination of the arnica herb and alcohol. With most tinctures one part water to five parts alcohol is used, but you’ll have to determine the proper mixture for your individual situation. Using apple cider vinegar in the same manner as an arnica tincture has proved to be beneficial for some people.
If you are treating existing bruises, you may find some benefit from these few suggestions for treatment. A more reasonable approach is to stop bruising from occurring in the first place by following the all natural Bruises Be Banned daily supplement program. This program has been proved by people all over the world to eliminate their being prone to easy bruising, and eliminate their reliance on some cure for bruises they don’t get any more.
Jan Doan, the “Doctor of Bruiseology” is renowned as the sole author to have written an entire reference book on bruising, showing people why they bruise, and how they may avoid bruising. You can obtain for yourself Part I of the new Desktop Reference Book on bruising causes free and learn the best way to get past the nightmares of easy bruising and how to prevent bruising